PHOTO: A routine field visit at the Bull Run River at Lower Flume near Brightwood, Oregon. The U.S. Geological Survey operates several streamgages and monitoring stations throughout the Bull Run watershed. These data play a critical role in water supply management, safety, and science. (Credit: USGS ORWSC)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CUAHSI and AGU-H3S are hosting a cyberseminar series titled “2025 Navigating (beyond) Academic Waters with AGU Hydrology Section Student Subcommittee.”
Below are the dates, times, and topics covered. You can register for the series HERE.
- 8/27/25 9-10 am PST “Reframing research language for impactful and relevant Broader Impact statements”
- 9/17/25 10-11am PST "Highlighting Skill Sets for Careers Outside Academia”
- 10/8/25 10-11am PST “Expanding Funding Landscape: Non-Federal Funding Opportunities”
- 11/5/25 10-11am PST “Leveraging AI and Data Science in Hydrology”
USGS and CUAHSI are partnering to bring the USGS National Water Availability Assessment Cyberseminar Series
Below are the dates, times, and topics covered. You can register HERE.
- September 24, 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET Understanding the Science
- October 22, 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET Leveraging the Science with the Data Companion
- November 19, 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET Communicating the Science with Data Science and Visualizations
Missed the previous bulletin?
Check out the UPP blog to catch up on recent publications from our affiliates and water news in Oregon. Read the June Bulletin.
UPP PARTNER PUBLICATIONS
Alida Cantor and Melissa Haeffner, both professors at PSU, and other collaborators, wrote an article titled “Plural Water Narratives: An Environmental Justice Lens on a Systematic Review of Q-Methodology Water Research”. This paper reviews seventy-seven case studies that use Q-methodology to explore how different people perceive their relationship with water, particularly through the lens of environmental justice. The authors categorize these perspectives into three justice dimensions: how water is distributed (like access to clean or scarce water), who has a voice in water decisions (procedural justice), and whose experiences are acknowledged (recognition justice). Interestingly, they found that most studies reveal not just two polarized views, but three or more viewpoints, which suggests complex, nuanced public perceptions rather than simple binaries. Understanding these varied narratives can help water managers anticipate conflicts, empathize with underrepresented groups, and design more equitable water solutions
Heejun Chang (PSU) recently co-wrote an article titled “Convergence research for sustainable regional systems.” The article discusses how solving big problems like climate change, food waste, pollution, and rising seas requires many different groups of scientists, policymakers, industries, and communities to work together. This way of working, called convergence research, combines knowledge from different fields and lived experiences to create real-world solutions. The authors highlight examples where researchers partnered with local communities and organizations to address issues like food waste, microplastics, and sea level rise. They argue that building trust, listening, and co-creating solutions are key, and they call on universities and funding agencies to better support this type of long-term, community-centered work.
Elise Granek (PSU) contributed to the recent publication titled “Reining in Plasticulture from Land to Sea: Pacific Northwest (USA) Perspectives on Agriculture and Aquaculture”. The article is about how farming practices that use plastic known as plasticulture have helped increase crop and seafood production, but they’ve also introduced microplastics and harmful chemicals into soil, compost, and water. In the Pacific Northwest, where farming and shellfish industries thrive, these plastics pose a growing environmental and health concern. Although biodegradable alternatives exist, they're currently expensive, restricted by regulations, and not widely used. To protect both ecosystems and public health, the article calls for coordinated efforts at the regional and state levels through regulations, safer materials, and better waste management to reduce plastic pollution and its spread through our food systems.
Water News in Oregon